Expell Briatore...Furlong Featured on BBC....Helguson Injury Update...Ex-Trialist David Connolly Joins Southampton

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There are TWO QPR Report sites: This site: QPR Report. And for cutting-edge, up-to-the-minute news re anything QPR-related: There is also the QPR Report Messageboard (in pratice, a combination of messageboard and quasi-blog). There you will find continuously-updated news re anything QPR (along with QPR nostalgia and nd some articles of more eclectic, broader football interest). And nothing non-football related. All QPR perspectives welcome: Just without the ad-hominems!

- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!


The Times/Patrick Barclay, Chief Football Commentator
- Football League should not delay in driving out Flavio Briatore
Those deciding whether people in the sport are ‘fit and proper’ must display the same qualities themselves
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Is football fit and proper to run its own affairs? The question arises as the Football League wrestles with a trio of ownership problems that, if the worst comes to the very worst, could cost it a founder member and two exceptionally well-endowed clubs, one in terms of support and the other, money.

And the strange thing is that the League doesn’t seem too angry about it. Yesterday’s statement from the board was “very grateful” to Notts County, reticent about Leeds United and almost solicitous towards the Queens Park Rangers co-owner, Flavio Briatore, who was kicked out of Formula One last month for involvement in race-fixing.

To deal with Briatore first: I know we live in a litigious age, but cannot see the point of tiptoeing around this fellow. If Formula One can ditch him, so can football. The only “response” sought from Briatore should be how long it will take to clear his desk. The FIA has told him that he can no longer be even a spectator and football should follow suit.

Instead, “due process” is observed. The very phrase reeks of fear, of authority in retreat, the posture of most governing bodies over recent years. Even the new FA, under Lord Triesman, has started bending over backwards to please agents, allowing them to perform “dual representation” of club and player in transfers when every independent inquiry has deemed it unethical.

The Football League, under Lord Mawhinney, has made progress on this front, insisting that clubs report all commissions paid to agents and publishing totals annually, and we had high hopes on the fit and proper persons front when Mawhinney proclaimed the “ground-breaking” innovation of a test for directors in 2004.

Without mentioning the Premier League, he talked of “new standards of corporate governance in football” and praised chairmen for a “brave decision” that would prevent “the good work of the vast majority of club directors from being tarnished by a handful of rogue individuals”.

Basically it banned those convicted of fraud or dishonesty, or rejects from other sports (in other words, people like Briatore), and a year later it was extended to people who had been sent to prison for 12 months or more, or placed on the sex offenders’ register.

What it did not say is how the League would know. And thus we come to the situation at Notts County, where a bizarre and opaque takeover leaves the game looking helpless and incapable of policing itself.

Surely the time to clear up “outstanding issues” is before a club are taken over, not after, when dark hints in the press appear to have jolted the League into action.

It is amazing that League rules have never been changed to this effect. Poor Notts County; we must fear for them, for there are signs that the supply of sheikhs is running out and the quality of sub-prime Arabs deteriorating.

And so to Leeds and their relentlessly assertive chairman, Ken Bates, who told a Jersey court in January that he part-owned the club but has since admitted making “an error”.

It is easily done. I doubt that there is one among us who has not claimed to have a controlling share in a football club. A friend of mine often tells people that he owns a majority of AC Milan — he genuinely believes that Silvio Berlusconi is a mere stooge — and once, with a slip of my own tongue, I offered a roomful of diners the opportunity to invest in Real Zaragoza.

Bates originally said that he had a “management share” in the Cayman-registered company that owns Leeds and now the question of who actually does own the club is being pursued. Albeit with little vigour.

Who are the League asking? Leeds. And who will receive the letter? Bates. True, it does give him time to ensure accuracy. But my guess is that he has been pondering this matter for a while and that a quick phone call from League HQ would have been in order, too.

If the League is being scrupulous as a prelude to toughness on any transgressions, well and good; we shall see. It may also be asked what would happen if, in the event of an owner being barred, a club ran into difficulty. The fans would suffer, just as children suffer (I apologise for the disproportionately heart-rending analogy) when a parent goes to jail. But there is always an excuse for avoiding the right thing to do" The Times


Barnet Official Site - FURLONG IS THE FOCUS
- A Football Focus camera spotlighted Paul Furlong, 41 years young last week, at the training ground today for a feature on the Saturday flagship programme on BBC 1 at 12.10 p.m.- Interviewer Garth Crooks talked to the popular striker, who displayed the enthusiasm of an 18-year-old in a competitive two hour training session build up to Saturday's visit to Rochdale alongside team-mates half his age who affectionately call him "Granddad".
- Furlong recently made a VIP appearance at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea met QPR, two of his previous clubs, and received an ovation from a 44,000 crowd when he was introduced on the pitch at half time.
- Although manager Ian Hendon was giving away no secrets of his team plans for Rochdale with a fully fit squad, it was obvious to watchers this morning that Furlong, who was missed at The Valley, is raring to get going again on Saturday.
- Paul has scored three times in 11 games this season..." - Dennis Signy
Barnet


Watford Official Site - ICE ICE BABY
- HEIDAR Helguson has been on the road to recovery after his calf injury, thanks to some excellent rehabilitation from the Watford medical team and Champneys Health Resort in Tring.

Champneys Tring have a 'Kriotherapy' chamber where you spend just three minutes in the specialised chamber which is set at -135 degrees.

The sub-zero temperatures assist in the acceleration of muscle recovery from exercise, so the facilities are perfect for aiding recovering injured sports men and women.
- Helguson is monitored by one of the Champneys staff
- It's frequently the therapy of choice for Olympic athletes as well as many other sports professionals and Champneys Tring is one of the first places in the UK to offer this unusual treatment.

Hornets boss Malky Mackay gave his verdict on the treatment which his Icelandic striker and several other members of the squad in rehabilitation are receiving.

After spending a short time in the Kriotherapy chamber, Helguson worked on a high-altitude bike with an oxygen mask on

"Heidar's been doing a lot of the Kriotherapy work at Champneys, to whom we're very thankful to and we're pleased with the way he's going at the moment" said the Watford manager.

"He's also been doing some specialist treatments in an oxygenated area there so he's been working hard with the physio and therapists.

"He's been jogging and he's gradually coming on and we've now got a couple of weeks for him to get fully fit." Watford


News of QPR's Summer Trialist, David Connolly
BBC - Southampton sign striker David Connolly
- Southampton have signed Republic of Ireland international striker David Connolly on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old, who left Sunderland in the summer following a succession of groin problems, has agreed a deal at St Mary's until the end of the season.

Connolly has signed in time to figure in Friday's trip to Southend.

Manager Alan Pardew said: "If he comes back from this injury lay-off, like I think he will, then we're going to find ourselves with an exciting player."

He added: "David is keen to show that he is ready to kick back in.

"I believe in him and my staff all feel that we could get one of the bargains of the season - but only if David comes back to what he has achieved and what he could do before, because he is a Premiership player when he is at his best.

Connolly, who has won 41 international caps, scoring nine goals, began his career with Watford, with his performances earning a move to Dutch side Feyenoord - one of the first high-profile Bosman moves.

He returned to England for a loan spell with Wolves before joining Wimbledon, where his 42 goals in 63 league starts earned him a move to West Ham, where he played under Pardew.

Connolly has since had spells with Leicester and Wigan before enduring an injury-ravaged time with the Black Cats" BBC


- Hogan Injured: Teamtalk: "Hogan Ephraim has undergone a minor keyhole operation on his ankle and will be out for around six weeks."

- Bernie Ecclestone: No Briatore Return to F1 Till proves Himself Innocent


- FOOTBALL LEAGUE BOARD STATEMENT
- At its meeting in London today, the Board of The Football League discussed its Fit and Proper Persons Test and general club ownership.
- As of today, and having taken advice from legal counsel in regard to existing League regulations, it was unanimously agreed that it will be the policy of the Board to insist that it is informed, with supporting evidence provided, of the ultimate beneficial owners of all Football League clubs.
- In regard to specific issues discussed, a spokesman for The Football League said...Flavio Briatore:
- "The Board conducted a comprehensive review of the situation, including the receipt of advice from leading counsel.
- "After considering all the information presently available to it and in the interest of due process, the Board will seek responses from Mr. Briatore before commenting further..." - Football League Statement


- "Flavio Briatore's Fate Determined Today?: Pre Hearing Press Speculation

- What EXACTLY is the "Fit and Proper" Test?


Tribal Football - QPR plannning offer for Getafe midfielder Licht
- Getafe face a battle to keep hold of midfielder Lucas Licht. The Argentine has been with Getafe for over three years and is now emerging as a surprise January target for Queens Park Rangers.
- Though they play in the Championship, QPR boast the financial backing to match any major European club and Cadena SER says they're planning a winter market move for Licht." Tribal Football - Wikipedia/Licht Profile


- New Job For Ex-QPR CEO, David Davies

- On This Day Flashback: QPR's First (ever) Win In the First Division...Martin Cranie joins QPR and debuts in Mick Harford's first QPR Win as Acting Manager

- QPR Managing Director, Alejandro Agag Update

- Chelsea Crackdown on Fan Anti-Semitism and Racism

- Football Against Racism Week: October 15-27

- Praise for Borrowdale

- Bernie Ecclestone Q&A including re Briatore

- Football League Chairman Mawhinney Address re Football

- Lakshmi Mittal #1 Rich Man in British Football (Bernie Ecclestone #8)

- FACTS &STATS: QPR Attendance Stats Over the Years

- Being Held Next Week: Antonio Caliendo's Golden Foot Awards